Shrub rose plant named `Meialate`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant (i.e., garden rose plant) is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive semi-double blossoms that are Dresden Yellow suffused with Neyron Rose. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is broad and bushy. Attractive medium green and semi-glossy foliage is formed. Good disease resistance is exhibited. Additionally, the new variety grows very well on its own roots following asexual reproduction by cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of shrub rose plant of the present invention was createdby artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) ofthe new variety was the product of the cross between the `Meineyta`variety (nonpatented in the United States) and the `The Fairy` variety(nonpatented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the `Meigronuri` variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 4,625). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized asfollows:

    (`Meineyta`×`The Fairy`)×`Meigronuri`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractivesemi-double blossoms that are Dresden Yellow suffused with Neyron Rose,

(b) exhibits a broad and bushy growth habit,

(c) forms vigorous vegetation,

(d) forms attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage,

(e) propagates well by cuttings, and

(f) exhibits good disease resistance.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as an attractive ornamentation in parks,gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes. Accordingly, it isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation such asbudding, grafting, and cuttage from one generation to another. The plantpropagates well and grows very well on its own roots.

The new variety has been named the `Meialate` variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the plant and plant parts of the new variety. Therose plant specimens of the new variety illustrated herein were one yearof age and were grown outdoors during December while budded on Rosafroebelli understock at LeCannet-des-Maures, Var, France except asotherwise indicated.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical blossoms and foliage of the new variety. Theyellow blossoms suffused with red and the attractive semi-glossy foliageare shown. The darker red area visible on some petals was the result ofcold damage in the Fall.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a typical cane of the new varietywherein thorns and dormant buds are shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates typical bright red rose hips formed in abundance onthe new variety.

FIG. 4 illustrates the mounding growth habit of a two year-old plant ofthe new variety when grown in the landscape at West Grove, Pa. duringJune. The depicted blossom coloration appears to be lighter than that ofFIG. 1 because of substantial fading to a creamy white coloration thatcommonly takes place during hot growing conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding color in more common terms. The description is based onone-year-old specimens of the new variety during September while buddedon Rosa froebelli understock and grown outdoors at LeCannet-des-Maures,Var, France.

Class: Shrub (Garden Rose).

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 80 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Width.--Approximately 70 to 80 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Habit.--Broad and bushy. See the mounding shrub growth habit of FIG. 4.The height and width commonly are about equal.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, near Yellow-Green Group 146B. Adultwood: light green, near Yellow-Green Group 147C.

Thorns.--Size: Medium (as illustrated). Quantity: medium in number.Configuration: downwardly hooked as illustrated in FIG. 2. Color:brownish-red on young stems and on adult wood.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, and rather large.

Petioles.--Upper surface: greenish during the growing season with thepresence of a few glandular edges, and reddish in the Fall when FIG. 1was obtained. Under surface: bear some prickles.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: elliptic. Serration:serralate with apical spines as illustrated in FIG. 1. Texture: typical.Overall appearance: very dense, medium green in coloration, andsemi-glossy. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: medium green,Yellow-Green Group 147B. Under surface: very light green, nearYellow-Green Group 147D. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: darkgreen, Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: medium green nearYellow-Green Group 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Commonly approximately 6 to 15 blooms per floralstem.

Peduncle.--Short and rigid with some aciculae, reddish when young andgreenish when mature, and approximately 1.5 to 2 cm. in length onaverage.

Sepals.--Upper surface: greenish in coloration (Greyed-Green Group194A). Under surface: greenish in coloration (Greyed-Green Group 194A).Configuration: commonly without extensions.

Buds.--Shape: conical. Length: approximately 1.5 to 2 cm. on average.Size: medium. Color (when opening): Upper surface: near Dresden Yellow,Yellow Group 5A, and widely suffused with near Azalea Pink, Red Group38A. Under surface: near Dresden Yellow, Yellow Group 5A, and widelysuffused with near Azalea Pink, Red Group 38A.

Flower.--Form: cup-shaped, somewhat flattened, and semi-double.Diameter: approximately 5 to 6 cm. on average. Color (when openingbegins): Upper surface: near Dresden Yellow, Yellow Group 5A, and widelysuffused with near Azalea Pink, Red Group 38A. Under surface: nearDresden Yellow, Yellow Group 5A, and widely suffused with near AzaleaPink, Red Group 38A. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: near lightDresden Yellow, Yellow Group 5D, and lightly suffused with near NeyronRose, Red Group 55C to 55D. Under surface: near light Dresden Yellow,Yellow Group 5D, and lightly suffused with Neyron Rose, Red Group 55C.Color (at end of blooming): Upper surface: near Dresden Yellow, YellowGroup 5D, and lightly suffused with very light Neyron Rose, Red Group55D. Under surface: near Dresden Yellow, Yellow Group 5D, and lightlysuffused with very light Neyron Rose, Red Group 55D. Fragrance: none.Petal form: rounded. Petal number: approximately 19 to 22 on average.Stamen number: approximately 66 on average. Anthers: yellow incoloration. Filaments: yellow in coloration. Pistils: approximately 34on average. Stigmas: yellow in coloration. Styles: yellow in coloration.Receptacle: greenish in coloration, and in longitudinal section it isnarrow and in the shape of a pitcher. Fruits: very abundant, fertile,medium in size, and near Red Group 44B in coloration.

Development:

Vegetation.--Strong.

Blossoming.--Very abundant and substantially continuous.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--Very good, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Resistance to diseases.--Good with respect to powdery mildew andblackspot.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive semi-double blossoms that are Dresden Yellow suffused with Neyron Rose, (b) exhibits a broad and bushy growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive medium green semi-glossy foliage, (e) propagates well by cuttings, and (f) exhibits good disease resistance; 